What are the use cases for AR in healthcare?

Augmented reality (AR) has practical applications in healthcare that address specific challenges in surgery, training, and patient care. One key use case is surgical navigation and visualization. AR systems can overlay 3D anatomical models, such as CT or MRI scans, directly onto a surgeon’s field of view during procedures. For example, tools like AccuVein use AR to project vein maps onto a patient’s skin, reducing errors in intravenous line placement. Developers can contribute by integrating real-time imaging data into AR headsets like Microsoft HoloLens, enabling surgeons to see critical structures (e.g., tumors or blood vessels) without shifting focus away from the operating table. These systems often rely on precise tracking algorithms and low-latency rendering to ensure accuracy during dynamic procedures.

Another area is medical education and training. AR allows trainees to interact with detailed, interactive 3D models of organs or systems, bypassing the limitations of traditional cadavers or static diagrams. For instance, platforms like HoloAnatomy use AR to teach anatomy by letting users manipulate virtual organs, zoom into structures, or simulate pathologies. Developers can build custom modules that adapt to different learning paces or integrate with existing medical databases. This approach also scales well for remote training, where learners in different locations can collaborate in shared AR environments. The technical challenges here include optimizing model complexity for real-time rendering and ensuring cross-device compatibility for accessibility.

A third use case is patient rehabilitation and therapy. AR-based systems can guide patients through physical therapy exercises by projecting visual cues or gamifying movements. For example, stroke patients might use AR apps that track limb motion and provide feedback to improve motor skills. Developers can design applications that integrate sensors (e.g., accelerometers or cameras) to monitor progress and adjust difficulty levels dynamically. Similarly, AR can assist in mental health treatments—exposure therapy for phobias might involve gradual virtual scenarios overlaid on real environments. These applications require robust data synchronization between hardware inputs and AR outputs, as well as privacy-focused data handling for patient information.